Cowen accused of misleading nation

BRIAN COWEN was last night accused of betraying and misleading the Irish people as he again insisted the country was not seeking a state bailout from the EU.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded the Taoiseach “told the truth” about his talks with European partners after days of official denials that bailout negotiations were going on.

Mr Kenny insisted an emergency EU financial rescue package was not an inevitability, but that Government “incompetence” had made it more likely.